Both supporters and opponents gave voice during the committee hearing.
Bride Seifert, an energy policy specialist with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, argued the focus of the bill was not to immediately build a nuclear power plant but have all energy options open.

But some Democratic lawmakers and bill opponents countered by arguing that the ban wasn’t muffling debate or exploration at all.

Utilities simply wanted the ban lifted so that they could foist the cost of siting a nuclear power plant onto rate consumers, it was argued.

But labor officials backed Peppin’s legislation.

Harry Melander, of the Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council, said about 30 percent of organization’s 50,000 members are currently unemployed.

A representative of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who also spoke in favor of lifting the ban, gave about the same unemployment rate among that union’s members.

About 20 percent of America’s energy is generated through nuclear power, he said.

As long as Minnesota retains its moratorium, no utility would seriously explore possibly siting a new plant in Minnesota. The state currently has nuclear power facilities at Monticello and at Prairie Island.

But Steve Morse, executive director for the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, a group representing 80-plus organizations and some 450,000 people, argued that pursuit of responsible, clean energy is undermined by Peppin’s bill.

There are some 34 dry casks of nuclear waste in Minnesota, and “no immediate plan to deal with that waste,” he said.

An Izaak Walton League representative also argued against the legislation.

Rep. Bill Hilty, DFL-Finlayson, argued that Peppin’s legislation sent exactly the wrong message in terms of economic development in the state — opponents argued the renewable energy offered an immediate, growing and safe energy direction.

Another Democrat on the committee spoke out against the bill.

“While proponents of the repeal laud it as a job creator, passing this bill would be a big step backward in continuing the growth of home-grown clean-energy jobs,” said Rep. Kate Knuth, DFL-New Brighton, in a statement.

While expressing concern over the waste storage issue, Peppin is optimistic that the federal government would ultimately come up with a waste storage solution.

She backs renewable energy, Peppin explained, but nuclear power can provide the constant, ongoing power to back up alternative energy during lulls.